Academy 'gets scoop' on sexual assault, gangs and auto theft crimes

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, October 16, 2000

Montgomery County hospitals do not currently have the equipment necessary to perform "rape kits," which gather evidence about the suspect and can be used in trial situations.

Though the child must be transported - accompanied by a sheriff's department employee - to a Houston facility to have the sexual assault kit performed, there are efforts being made to get the necessary medical equipment at Children's Safe Harbor, an child advocacy center in Conroe.

In addition, Children's Safe Harbor is currently equipped to conduct the necessary video interview of the child - and any child witnesses - and to provide support services.

"(Children's Safe Harbor) is very child friendly and has special rooms with cameras," Tidwell said. "A trained professional does the interview. They are working on getting medical services."

Tidwell also explained the different offenses classified under the "sexual assault" category, which include indecent exposure, assault by contact, indecency with a child, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, prohibited sexual conduct and sexual performance/child.

In order for the district attorney's office to accept a case, Tidwell said, there must be various elements met: the person, county and date must be reported; the suspect must commit the act intentionally and knowingly; the suspect must engage in a specific act; and the act must be without consent of the victim.

"You have to give extreme detail, that is why it is so difficult to get sexual assault victims to report the crime," Tidwell said.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that three out of four women, and one out of seven men will be sexual assault victims in their lifetime.

Tidwell urged those who are victims of such an assault to call the 911 as soon as they possibly can. A sexual assault kit cannot be performed after 72 hours.

Sergeant Ken Ariola of the sheriff's Special Investigations Unit also captured the attention of academy members with spirited "Gang Task Force" presentation.

The task force was formed in 1996 and includes officers from the Conroe Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department and the Conroe ISD Police Department.

Ariola said that the number of gang members in Montgomery County has dropped from 1,300 in 1996 to less than 300 today.

"We are proactive on gangs," Ariola said. "We go out and identify them and jack them up on the streets. That's why we don't have 1,300 gang members. We are monitoring the other 300 and if they trip up we are going to do something about it. We do everything we can not to violate their rights."

Ariola explained the types of gang members, characteristics of gangs and gang members and gave some clues on how to identify gang members and activities.

Signs of possible gang involvement, Ariola said, include sudden poor grades and disinterest in school, withdrawal from family activity, use of an unknown vocabulary, evidence of drug abuse, use of hand signs, a new nickname, use of gang graffiti on folders, desks, walls and buildings, and staying out later than usual.

"Gangs are luring our children away with the promise of love," he said. "Take the time and show your kids some love."

Lt. Lanie Moriaty of the Auto Theft Task Force told academy members that since the advent of the task force in 1994, 1,106 arrests have been made, 311 salvage inspections performed and over 12,000 vehicles inspected in those salvage yards.

He added that the task force has recovered 3,362 vehicles valued at over $34 million.

Moriaty said that if auto theft was ranked as a business, it would come in as no. 26 among U.S. companies.

"They (car thieves) get $500 for one stolen car and it takes them 30 minutes (to steal the car)," Moriaty said.

Most thefts, he said, are committed by individuals between 15 and 19 years old.

He said that while it is easy to steal a car, most car thieves are "lazy by nature" and may avoid a car that has "a lot of flashing lights and kill switches."

"The number one car stolen in Montgomery County is the Chevrolet trucks," Moriaty said.